Ribble Valley wedding guest's crash horror tragedy

A 20-YEAR-OLD who died after trying to drive home whilst drunk was ‘deeply upset’ about his ex-girlfriend going nightclubbing in Accrington with his pal, an inquest heard.

Market trader Oliver Jones was three times over the drink drive limit and had taken cocaine when he lost control of his Citroen Saxo on the A59 Clitheroe Road in Sawley in the early hours of October 26, Ribble Valley Coroner’s Court heard.

He died from multiple injuries after crashing into a stone column and bridge.

He had been due to share a room with Gabriella Pashley after the pair attended a wedding reception at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors the previous evening.

But in the early hours, Gabriella and Oliver’s friend of ten years, Wade Halstead, wanted to extend the evening by going to a nightclub in Accrington, the inquest heard yesterday.

They both told the inquest they invited Oliver and others to join them, but he was playing football the next day and did not want to go.

Oliver, who lived in Settle, then made nearly 30 phone calls to Gabriella and Wade between 11.30pm and 3.30am, as well as a text message to Gabriella which said ‘why you being so bad, please ring me’.

But Gabriella told the inquest she did not hear the calls and then lost her handbag and phone.

She added: “We had split up a month or two before, but we were still really good friends. He tried to make me stay but I wanted to go. He was getting a little angry but I thought he would go back to bed.”

Back at the hotel Oliver was seen with blood on his hands and torn clothes, and had told a friend he had smashed his car window, the inquest heard.

Wade said he was unaware of Oliver being upset, saying he ‘seemed fine’ when he spoke to him on the phone as they arrived in Accrington.

He and Gabriella got back to the hotel at about 4am or 5am and stayed in the same room, by which time it was likely that Oliver had left, the inquest heard.

Crash investigators said Oliver was driving at about 60mph, the legal limit for the road, when the collision happened at 4.48am.

As well as the alcohol and drugs, the slightly low pressure of his car tyres could have been a contributing factor to the loss of control, the inquest heard.

Mum Carol Jones said Oliver had previously lost his licence due to dangerous driving and successfully had retaken his test. He had ‘sensibly’ booked a room at the hotel, as he knew he would be drinking.

She said she was ‘shocked and horrified’ by his actions as she knew he was ‘trying to be good’.

Derek Baker, assistant coroner for Blackburn, said of the crash: “I can’t ignore the high level of alcohol in his blood stream, I think that will be one of the main reasons. What’s harder for me is why he took the decision to drive at all when he knew he was over the limit. It does suggest either an emergency or he was deeply upset about something.”

He found Oliver had died in a road traffic collision.

Oliver’s dad Trevor said after the hearing in Clitheroe: “He was a very respectful lad and was quite sensible really, but young people need to take the dangers of driving more seriously. It’s just a waste isn’t it. They were behaving like adults but they are kids.”

Comments (7)

My deepest sympathies go out to Oliver mum and dad. This is a tragedy made worse by Oliver young age.
On a separate note, at the time of this accident the LT went trawling round the usual local councillors to propagate it's theory of dangerous roads, with local councillors calling for more to be done in particular with this road, the A59.
I said at the time, since this incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when there would be little traffic on the road, wait for the outcome of the investigation instead of keep propagating this nonsensical theory of "dangerous roads".
Once again we are proved right - there is no such thing as a dangerous road, only dangerous drivers!
Some people may think it insensitive of me to use this article to promote this but we all need to learn the lessons - alcohol and drugs are dangerous in themselves but should never ever be consumed when driving. The consequences are almost always inevitable - tragedy!
NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.

My deepest sympathies go out to Oliver mum and dad. This is a tragedy made worse by Oliver young age.
On a separate note, at the time of this accident the LT went trawling round the usual local councillors to propagate it's theory of dangerous roads, with local councillors calling for more to be done in particular with this road, the A59.
I said at the time, since this incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when there would be little traffic on the road, wait for the outcome of the investigation instead of keep propagating this nonsensical theory of "dangerous roads".
Once again we are proved right - there is no such thing as a dangerous road, only dangerous drivers!
Some people may think it insensitive of me to use this article to promote this but we all need to learn the lessons - alcohol and drugs are dangerous in themselves but should never ever be consumed when driving. The consequences are almost always inevitable - tragedy!
NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.HarryBosch

HarryBosch wrote:
My deepest sympathies go out to Oliver mum and dad. This is a tragedy made worse by Oliver young age.
On a separate note, at the time of this accident the LT went trawling round the usual local councillors to propagate it's theory of dangerous roads, with local councillors calling for more to be done in particular with this road, the A59.
I said at the time, since this incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when there would be little traffic on the road, wait for the outcome of the investigation instead of keep propagating this nonsensical theory of &quot;dangerous roads".
Once again we are proved right - there is no such thing as a dangerous road, only dangerous drivers!
Some people may think it insensitive of me to use this article to promote this but we all need to learn the lessons - alcohol and drugs are dangerous in themselves but should never ever be consumed when driving. The consequences are almost always inevitable - tragedy!
NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.

Agree with every word. Please don't Drink and Drive It Destroys Lives. Sympathies with all concerned R.I.P young fella.

[quote][p][bold]HarryBosch[/bold] wrote:
My deepest sympathies go out to Oliver mum and dad. This is a tragedy made worse by Oliver young age.
On a separate note, at the time of this accident the LT went trawling round the usual local councillors to propagate it's theory of dangerous roads, with local councillors calling for more to be done in particular with this road, the A59.
I said at the time, since this incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when there would be little traffic on the road, wait for the outcome of the investigation instead of keep propagating this nonsensical theory of "dangerous roads".
Once again we are proved right - there is no such thing as a dangerous road, only dangerous drivers!
Some people may think it insensitive of me to use this article to promote this but we all need to learn the lessons - alcohol and drugs are dangerous in themselves but should never ever be consumed when driving. The consequences are almost always inevitable - tragedy!
NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.[/p][/quote]Agree with every word. Please don't Drink and Drive It Destroys Lives. Sympathies with all concerned R.I.P young fella.andy1

HarryBosch wrote: My deepest sympathies go out to Oliver mum and dad. This is a tragedy made worse by Oliver young age. On a separate note, at the time of this accident the LT went trawling round the usual local councillors to propagate it's theory of dangerous roads, with local councillors calling for more to be done in particular with this road, the A59. I said at the time, since this incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when there would be little traffic on the road, wait for the outcome of the investigation instead of keep propagating this nonsensical theory of &quot;dangerous roads". Once again we are proved right - there is no such thing as a dangerous road, only dangerous drivers! Some people may think it insensitive of me to use this article to promote this but we all need to learn the lessons - alcohol and drugs are dangerous in themselves but should never ever be consumed when driving. The consequences are almost always inevitable - tragedy! NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.

Agree with every word. Please don't Drink and Drive It Destroys Lives. Sympathies with all concerned R.I.P young fella.

Have to agree with both of you, but why no mention of the cocaine he had in his system? Surely that is as bad as, if not worse than alcohol.

[quote][p][bold]andy1[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]HarryBosch[/bold] wrote: My deepest sympathies go out to Oliver mum and dad. This is a tragedy made worse by Oliver young age. On a separate note, at the time of this accident the LT went trawling round the usual local councillors to propagate it's theory of dangerous roads, with local councillors calling for more to be done in particular with this road, the A59. I said at the time, since this incident occurred in the early hours of the morning when there would be little traffic on the road, wait for the outcome of the investigation instead of keep propagating this nonsensical theory of "dangerous roads". Once again we are proved right - there is no such thing as a dangerous road, only dangerous drivers! Some people may think it insensitive of me to use this article to promote this but we all need to learn the lessons - alcohol and drugs are dangerous in themselves but should never ever be consumed when driving. The consequences are almost always inevitable - tragedy! NEVER EVER DRINK AND DRIVE.[/p][/quote]Agree with every word. Please don't Drink and Drive It Destroys Lives. Sympathies with all concerned R.I.P young fella.[/p][/quote]Have to agree with both of you, but why no mention of the cocaine he had in his system? Surely that is as bad as, if not worse than alcohol.Mothernature

Feel so sorry for Oliver - I were always fighting over girls and I hate that feeling like they ripped your heart out. You think that they are laughing at you and everything. Truth is - everyone goes through that several times before you meet the right person.

First Lesson here is about your tyre pressure, and anyone who has ever driven fast in a sporty car will agree, because you only need one tyre to be low and it can get tricky.

Second Lesson is about relationships and how you handle it. Girls can drive you mad, so try to steer clear of them because there are plenty more who wouldn't.

Feel so sorry for Oliver - I were always fighting over girls and I hate that feeling like they ripped your heart out. You think that they are laughing at you and everything. Truth is - everyone goes through that several times before you meet the right person.
First Lesson here is about your tyre pressure, and anyone who has ever driven fast in a sporty car will agree, because you only need one tyre to be low and it can get tricky.
Second Lesson is about relationships and how you handle it. Girls can drive you mad, so try to steer clear of them because there are plenty more who wouldn't.Burnley-Lad-555